R12: Patch(es) , conflict with the patch currently being installed (PATCH)

You are applying a technologies patch to the R12 Ebusiness Suite 10.1.2.X.X or 10.1.3.X.X home and receive the following message during opatch application. These steps are also relevant for non Ebusiness suite technologies patches as the theory is the same. Conflicting patches: ,
Patch(es) , conflict with the patch currently being installed (PATCH BEING APPLIED).
If you continue, patch(es) , will be rolled back and the new patch (PATCH BEING APPLIED) will be installed.
Note: If the patch currently being installed (PATCH BEING APPLIED) is rolled back, it is recommended that the fixes being rolled back here (, ) are reinstalled.
If a merge of the new patch (PATCH BEING APPLIED) and the conflicting patch(es) , is required, contact Oracle Support Services and request

You are unsure on whether to proceed or quit the patch.
How does one determine if the patch being applied can safely override the existing patch?
When there is such a conflict between and existing patch and the patch being applied you should compare the bugs fixed in both the patches. The conflict arises when a patch being applied contains a file that is also included in another patch manually applied on top of the current installed patchset. As there is no version information the conflicting patch message appears.
Obtain a copy of each patch and compare the 'inventory' file or the 'readme' file. These files contain a list of bugs fixed by each patch. These files exist within the patch zip file. Extract the patch zip to view either of these files
Compare the bugs listed. What you are looking for is to make sure that the patch being applied has all the bugs mentioned that are fixed in the existing patch. In other words, before rolling back the existing patch you want to make sure the bugs it fixes are included in the new patch being applied.
If all the patches listed in the existing patch are included in the patch being applied you can safely continue the patch.
In some cases the patch being applied may not contain all the bug fixes that are included with the existing patch. If you do not require the missing patches you can safely continue patch application.
If you do require the patches then you should stop the patch application and log a service request with Oracle Support requesting a "Merge Label Request, MLR" of the existing patch and the patch being applied.